Malicious Code Injection in @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails: Covert Channel Subscription Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2026-17350: Malicious code in @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails (npm). Affects @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails versions 0.0.8. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails is a fork of the Baileys WhatsApp Web library, designed to facilitate interactions with WhatsApp's web interface. This package, like many in its family, has been identified as malicious, injecting covert actions into the WhatsApp socket layer. It is part of a larger group of over 100 similar forks that exploit the WhatsApp API for unauthorized channel subscriptions.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the package's ability to inject a covert channel-subscription action into the WhatsApp socket layer. Upon connection, the malicious code executes an authenticated 'w:mex' FOLLOW query against attacker-chosen WhatsApp Channel/Newsletter JIDs using the installer's own authenticated session. This results in the victim's account being silently subscribed to channels without their consent. The obfuscation techniques used to hide target JIDs include plain string literals, base64 encoding, and dynamic fetching of target lists from remote sources, making detection difficult.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall @bellaxchuu/xtrxbailsIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails package from your project by running the following command: 'npm uninstall @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails'. This will prevent the execution of the malicious code until a fix is provided.
Conclusion
The @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails package contains a serious vulnerability that allows for unauthorized subscriptions to WhatsApp channels. Users are advised to update or remove the package to mitigate risks. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
See every vulnerability recorded for @bellaxchuu/xtrxbails →
FAQ
The main issue is that it injects malicious code that subscribes the user's WhatsApp account to channels without their consent.
The code operates by executing an authenticated FOLLOW query against attacker-controlled WhatsApp channels upon establishing a connection.
No, the vulnerability does not exfiltrate credentials or execute arbitrary remote code; it only subscribes users to channels.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time. It analyzes your package-lock.json file to alert you of any issues.
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